Improvement in car-couplings



inches by eleven inches. -will be seen, moves in a vertical line. being;

tumbler C, which im.

slightly beveled .from top to bottom.

rangement and mode ot' construction enable UNITI-ED. STATES 4 PATENTOFFICE.

GEORGE GOLLYER, O F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-CQUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,612. dated.Fobruaryl, leoi.

newund .useful Improvements in Couplings .for Railroful-Gars;v and I dohereby declare that the following' isA a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe construction and operation ofthe saine, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is av side view,and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section, of two coupling-boxes; Fig.3, a top view, and Fig. 4 a :tron't` end view, of a single coupling-box;Fig. 5, a variation in the shape of the front cud Fig. 6, a side view,and Fig. 7 a front view, of the tumbler or latch detached; Fig. 8 a sideview, and Figs. 9 andA 1t) top views, of coupling-bars.

The drawings are on a scale one inch therein representing four inches inthe working-couplings.

A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,represent the couplingbox; B, Fig. 2, thecouplingbnr; C, Figs. 6, and 7, the tumbler or latch l), spiral springs;E, Figs. .1, 2, 3, and 4, the front or open ind of the coupling-box; F,Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, a box throughwhieh the rod ot' the tumblerb`slides and into which the springs D recede when the tumbler U is drawnup to .permit thc withdrawing of the coupling-bar B. I will now proceedto describe the construe-- tion and mode ot operation of myimprovements; I make the coupling-bar B and tumbler C ot' 'wroughtiroinall other parts represented of cast-iron. is about six inches square,excepting the front end, Fig. 4, which is oblong, being about ten Thetumbler C, it

provided with tongues C', Figs. 2 and t3, which slide in correspondin;rgrooves c a', Fig. 3, 'in the sides of the cou'pli .;'-box. 'lhe sideofthe .s and comes in contact with the de'tent d of the coupling-bar, isvery This aany operator to nneouple the cars ntany time without startingthe train backward or xorward, no matter llcwclose may be the contactbetween the tumbler and the coul'iling-bar.

The natural position ol' the tumbler C is shon a in Fig. 2. When twooars are to be coupled,

the. coupling-bar "i, having had one ot' its,

The coupling-box A is ends inserted into the coupling-box of either ear,1s kept in a position abouthorizontnl by theQtumbler and its springs.One car standing still and -thc other approaching it, thevouter end ot"the coupling-bar comes in contact shown in Fig. fl-the cars .being nowcoupled.

The coupiing-bar .3 is made shorter than the combined length ofthe twocavities (.r when the iront ends 111 oi' 'the conplingdioxes are incontact, and therefore the bar cannot strike at the same time with bothits ends the rea-l walis ofthe cavities. i

I construct the coupling-hars in two lorms,

having` expansions [1,Figs-9 and lo. 'liar-,h form is designed for aparticular oiliee. The

expansions b ot' the bar (represented in lig. 0)

extend laterally outside of'thodelont 1I. vl use a bar of this form toconnect the train to ihe locomotive-engine. 'Vl'ieneverithappensthat theengine is thrown from the. track it.l is very desirable thattlieconnection between the engine and the train should be speedily broken.

This is especially desirable when the accident appensncar an embankmentor side cnt on a mountain, because the engine, being,Y in most casesmuch heavier than the train, drags thc latter with it, it may be, downthe embank; ment. Now, il we use a ccupliugdmr sach as is shown inFigui), then when vthe engine leaves the rails as long as its wheelsremain on the. the cross-tics and. the engine is so kept in about ahorizontal position the couplingsY will not come undone, but as soon asthe wheels on one side leave the cross-ties' the engine is eanted over,the expansion (fraises the tumbler i), thc engine is uneoupled.from thetrain, and the latter is lefton the. track.

ln the bar represented in Fie'. 'io-the exp-ansions I Eire iess thanvthose in Fie. .l,tl1\;:.iletein. I extending outside el.' theexpansions. i de sign to iso this i'orm ii connmztinj.,v the am whichcompose the train.

does not oi' itself nueonpic the ears, outrequires the tumbler() .to bedrawn up bynn f operator before 4the uncoupling is effected. Nhcn nltrain is moving rapidly und one of the cars is thrown from the track, iumost cases its front trucks turn either tothe right or to the left, itsrear trucks taking the'opposite direction, which throws the car acrossthe track, uid the next succeeding car runs'intoit, sometinie's throughit. It is ytherefore desirable 'that We should connect the curs of atrain by couplings which,'as well as being self coupling, shill bestrong and not easily lunooupled. The ut ends'of the bars obvinte thetendency that a round but' has to turn over, which turning mightendanger the uncouplin'g of the curs when not desired.

. v The bars'rnight be innde ot' o uniform width,

wide throughout as I lime-represented thc expansions b to be, but thus.constructed they lwould not work Well unless the' proportions of theotherfparts were materially altered, since the bar, having less lateraliplay iu the box, could not so' well adapt itself to the varying motionsofthe eers, s, for instance,'when the train is turning curves. i

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l; 'lhecombination of the tumbler C, springs selves uncouple the'cnrs inense the letter get oif the track.

3. .The employment of coupling-oars such as shown in Fig. 10, hnvingexpansions b near .the ends of the burs'with less lateral breadth thanthe detent, so that, although one or more curs ofthe trein may get o'thetrack-,the cars.-

shull not be thereby 'nncon'pled.

' GEO. COLLYER.

^ Witncssesz J. E. SHAW, JAMEs MGCAHEN.

